Mass timber construction is a growing global phenomenon. Beyond its superior environmental performance, a key advantage of mass timber - and one that will ensure mass timber becomes a catalyst for widespread construction industry transformation - is that mass timber is exceptionally well-suited to prefabrication.

As we look to the future, we know the next big step toward sustainable development is the industrialization of the construction process. Factory-built solutions are the key to the significant gains in construction efficiency and building performance that we need, not only to improve our built environment but also to reduce its carbon footprint.

Precision built, prefabricated mass timber construction delivers many key advantages including: optimized material use, improved thermal efficiency, reduced operational energy costs, reduced carbon emissions, and increased asset values.

The construction industry is complex and fraught with risk. Modern mass timber construction offers a better way to build that can not only help streamline the construction process, but also mitigate risk. Digital design and fabrication, optimized and repeatable structural solutions, innovative new products, and a deeper understanding of and desire for buildings that deliver long-term value across multiple channels (ESG) are driving much needed change in the way we conceive and deliver buildings.

In recent decades, the global AECO industry has been falling behind with digital transformation. Building projects have become like highly calibrated machines, with complex mechanical and information technology systems and increasing numbers of stakeholders, but the processes and tools for managing them have remained nearly unchanged.

The digital age is bringing a better way—and it is poised to disrupt the AECO industry’s business-as-usual. I call it the digital building lifecycle approach: a method of using data to deliver built environments with higher total performance at lower total cost. The digital future is about creating new business models, disrupting processes, and innovating tools that empower the digital building lifecycle approach—changes that could influence the entire AECO industry.

As the first tall wood building in Ontario, George Brown College envisions the Arbour as a landmark, tall wood, net zero carbon emissions building that will feature ecological innovation across its entire life cycle. The Arbour is a model for 21st Century smart, resilient and sustainable building innovation throughout Canada. Achieving ambitious performance targets, responsible budget, mass timber innovation and a rigorous timeframe is enabled through a wide variety of tools including cloud based collaboration tools, energy modelling, clash detection, 4-D sequencing animations and cloud based contract admin software. The presentation will be broken down into 2 parts:

1. Design and Sustainability - Overview of the design and sustainability initiatives highlighting digital collaboration tools and continuous energy modelling informing design solutions
2. Construction - Timber innovation, design assist, clash detection, 3-D shop drawing review, coordination and contract administration
   

Our team worked on two Vancouver based MT projects: PH1 and oN5. On both projects we were striving towards the illusive goal of: BETTER, FASTER AND CHEAPER. Full modelling of the architecture, MEPF was done in Revitt, while the MT structure was modelled in CadWork. Both to shop drawing quality. We merged both for clash detection. Main use of the combined model was erection sequencing, which was critical on tight mid city sites. Early coordination with all the trades was crucial for proper execution on site.

Fully prefabricated MT panels achieved the goal of FAST erection.

Better QUALITY was achieved by better insulation at prefab yard. Heat bridges were avoided by following PH design principles.

Flat CLT slabs (no beams) were achieved by the use of TS3 system.

Superior seismic resistance was made a reality by introduction of Tectonus hold-down system.

Avoiding forming against existing buildings together with shorted construction time resulted in real savings.

Lots can be improved still. The road of prefabrication of MT is just starting but these 2 projects are a proof that progress can be achieved with currently existing local teams and machinery.

This presentation offers a brief introduction to a new resource for owners and building professionals. "Building Information Modelling For Wood Buildings: An Introductory Guide" is intended to help design and construction professionals and suppliers who work in the world of wood buildings get started with BIM. It  also shows building owners, operators and developers the value-add that BIM can realize when used to deliver innovative timber buildings, efficiently, reliably and sustainably.